Maybe the weather was a bit rough on us, but some people got some good news. Sue Paschke, from Schauer’s Hallmark is making a slow but sure recovery. Her appetite is back and she is able to walk around naturally, unassisted, reading her mail and enjoying hearing from old friends form Forest Park. Just drop your card off at the store and Scott will be happy to bring it to her.
Frank Nee who underwent surgery a couple of weeks ago, got good news from his doctors that he is free of all bad stuff and has all good stuff in him now. Hooray and congratulations!
Lucky Lisa Marquardt! She left with her mother for Florida on Saturday just missing the greatest snowfall we’ve ever had in one day on Sunday. Lisa left her three “boys,” Charles, Tom and Henry to cope with the snow.
Ann and Jim Murray are proud to announce they are grandparents of three beautiful grandchildren; Margaret Rose (“Maggie”) McElligott, daughter of Katie and Dan McElligott. Daddy teaches fifth grade at Field Stevenson. Then we have Elizabeth Ann (“Iggie”) Armstrong, daughter of Colleen and Todd Armstrong. The Armstrongs live in San Francisco. Grandson, Maxwell James Beesley is the son of Mary Ann and Todd Armstrong. The Armstrongs live here in Forest Park.
For our many music lovers we have a concert at Saint Peter and Paul Church at 31st and Desplaines Avenue this Sunday at 2 p.m. Our David Richards is the pianist, Ken Hummeni on cello. Admission is free, refreshments follow the concert.
The Forest Park Review Online Snowman Parade was a huge success. Here’s the Dan Novak family and their enormous 7-foot snowman, with food-coloring decorations.
The Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest will feature River Forest baritone Doug Anderson singing songs by Mahler in the Feb. 15 concert at Dominican University. This concert will begin at 4 p.m. and will also include Nielson’s Symphony #3 and works by Weber.
Something special is happening at Garfield Elementary. Special Ed teacher Stacie Pelletier won $1,000 in grant money from the Illinois Education Association to take her special needs students on community field trips. The kids get to learn what to do/how to act so they can be successful outside of school. Their first foray was a visit to the Junction Diner and “they loved it!”
Do you have a new pet? Veterinarian John Brancel at Prairie State Animal Hospital in Oak Park is offering $40 off to spay or neuter your pet in the month of February. Dogs must be updated on rabies shots to qualify.
The Schubertiade at Unity Temple to celebrate Schubert’s birthday was sublime. If you are on the internet, you can watch the Pianoforte Schubertiade on Youtube at the Pianoforete Studios channel.
Keep warm and dry.
Let’s get on to the important news, the birthdays! This week say, or sing, happy birthday to Ashley Mendez, Ashley Lisenby, Stacey LoCascio, Ann Spence, Jacquinet Baldwin, Cherise Stewart, Michelle rubio, LaTonzia Sanders, Mike Lyons, Jr., Eleni Callis, Marilyn Gotsch, Corinna Jantz. Happy anniversary to Dorothy and Angelo Spinelli, Pam and Todd Bower and Cassidy and Frances McSheffrey.
Jackie is a former Chicago and Elmwood Park schoolteacher with an undying love for music, friendly pets and a host of life’s other treasures too numerous to list. She was born on the far southwest side of Chicago in a great neighborhood when it was a great time to be young.
